Since the pandemic and the impact of the War in Ukraine began to subside, the return of tourists to Copenhagen has been noticeable, with Thursday witnessing the naming of the MSC Euribia
ship in the Port of Copenhagen, symbolizing the resurgence in cruise tourism.
Copenhagen has traditionally been a popular destination for cruise ships, serving as a major "turn-around port" where cruises either start or end. However, in recent times, other Danish ports have experienced growth in 2023 while Copenhagen has struggled to regain momentum.
Klaus Bondam, the CEO of CruiseCopenhagen, expressed optimism about the future, stating, "I am confident that by 2024 and 2025, we will likely return to the numbers we experienced before, although the industry will see changes as smaller ships become more prevalent."
The naming of the MSC Euribia by Sophia Loren marked a historic event for Copenhagen. Bondam hopes that this event will encourage MSC and other shipping companies to rediscover the Baltic Sea as a cruise destination. As a trend, larger cruise ships are being replaced by smaller vessels, and the War in Ukraine has led cruise companies to avoid St. Petersburg as a destination.
An important task ahead is to convince cruise lines that the Baltic Sea offers much more beyond St. Petersburg. Bondam emphasized the ease of getting around Copenhagen compared to St. Petersburg, where traffic congestion poses challenges. The Baltic Sea region offers efficient and accessible destinations, allowing guests to experience multiple attractions within the limited time of their stay.
Another challenge facing cruise tourism is overcrowding at popular attractions, leading to local overtourism. The current trend reflects a growing demand for unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences, where tourists seek places and sights not typically included in standard tour packages.
Cruise ship visits to Denmark from 2019 to 2023 reveal a decrease in visits to Copenhagen but an increase in other Danish ports outside the capital. In 2019, Copenhagen welcomed 348 ships and 940,000 guests. In 2023, there will be 289 visits, 59 fewer than in 2019. Meanwhile, Danish ports outside Copenhagen are expected to receive a total of 230 visits in 2023, representing an increase of 44 compared to 2019. Photo by Dennis Rosenfeldt, Wikimedia commons.